Zhou Qi

Zhou Qi was selected 43rd overall in the 2016 draft by the Houston Rockets.

First of I would like to say what a shambles the Chinese team are in. They have 3 x 7footers, they play like unstructured social league ball. Offensively, they pretty much have 3 or 4 guys all standing around the outside not really moving much with one, maybe two guys inside the paint. Defensively - hopeless.

Now, on to Zhou Qi. The good - he is listed at 7"2 with a 7.75"wingspan and has some shooting touch. Enough to fool a few NBA scouts and get him drafted.

Now on to the bad. The guy is rail thin, he would need at least two years, if not four years to put on some decent weight and even then his body structure doesn't look like he can put much on anyway.

Defensively he is awful, he looks lost. Not a very good IQ and with that wingspan he should be blocking shots or at least altering and/or intimidating around the basket. He lacks heart and passion.

Offensively he looks timid, doesn't get inside and looks to pass first most of the time. If he is wide open from the outside he might decide to shoot it. Doesn't have much confidence.

NBA outlook for Zhou Qi - I personally would be surprised if he ever plays in the NBA and even if he does would be no more than a 9th or 10th man

I'd have to agree with that assessment r337. I think the words you used to describe him are spot on: Timid, lacks confidence, looks lost, doesn't seem like he has passion.

He has a nice stroke on his jumper, but I really don't see a huge need for a seven footer that exclusively shoots threes. Yi Jianlian plays with a lot more purpose, skill and desire... and even he couldn't stick in the NBA. Don't like Zhou Qi's chances. In saying that, I'm always hoping International players succeed in the NBA, so I hope he can prove us all wrong one day.

The Olympics is not a great platform to evaluate Qi's chances in the league, considering the Chinese team is awful and has some of the worst guards I have ever seen playing at that high of a level. The kid is 20 years old with great size and a stroke, let him play with guards capable of handling any sort of ball pressure and then let's assess.

Zhou Qi is also tied with his team in China. He couldve move to the US 2-3 years ago to improve mainly his physique and play against better competition but that did not happen. He wanted to, but CBA won't let him. He couldve have been a 1st rounder if he did that. His body is the same as it is was 3 years ago.

China really has to do something about the development of their young players. Whether it's bringing in more foreign coaches or letting players develop abroad. We've seen so many of their young guys show flashes at a young age that end up never getting much better